“Every
Christian must be a living book wherein one can read the teaching of
the gospel. This is what St. Paul says to the Corinthians, ‘Clearly you
are a letter of Christ which I have delivered, a letter written not with
ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but
on tablets of flesh in the heart’ (2 Corinthians 3:3). Our heart is the
parchment; through my ministry the Holy Spirit is the writer because ‘my
tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe’ (Psalm 45:1)." (from a sermon by Saint Joseph of Leonessa)
Today, February 4, we celebrate the feast of
Saint Joseph of Leonessa
(Giovanni da Leonessa, 1556-1612), missionary, friar, and confessor.
Saint Joseph is known for his brave and tireless preaching throughout
Europe and Muslim lands, sacrificing his own comfort and safety to bring
the Word of God to those in need.
Born
Eufranio Desiderio in Leonessa, Italy, a small town in Umbria, Joseph
demonstrated considerable piety and devotion from infancy. As soon as he
was old enough to move about, Joseph spent his days erecting alters and
praying before them, encouraging his play companions to join him in his
daily exhortations. The third of eight children, he and his siblings
were doubly orphaned when Joseph was just 12 years old. His uncle, a
teacher in nearby Viterbo, undertook the care and education of Joseph.
Joseph,
while living in the care of his uncle, continued in his religious
development, feeling the call of the Lord to religious life growing
within him. His uncle, however, had arranged a suitable marriage for
him, and upon his sixteenth birthday made arrangements for the wedding
to occur. Joseph fell ill with fever, and upon recovering, petitioned
the Capuchin reform of the Franciscan Order to enter. He was approved
and made his novitiate in the convent near Assisi, taking the name
Joseph. From his entrance into the Order, he exemplified a single-minded
resolve to reach what he called
"the inexpressible joy of being a son of St. Francis."
 |
Saint Joseph of Leonessa
with Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen |
Joseph became known for his abstinence and austere
embrace of life. He referred to himself as “Brother Ass,” saying to his
hungry body:
"there is no need to feed thee as a noble horse would be fed; thou must be content to be a poor ass."
In 1599, the year before his Jubilee year, he fasted for the entire
year in preparation of receiving an indulgence. Saint Joseph preached
and traveled with fellow Capuchin friar,
Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, until the latter’s martyrdom.
At
the age of 31, Saint Joseph was dispatched to Constantinople, with the
intent of ministering to the Christians help captive in Muslim lands.
Following a dangerous journey, Saint Joseph took residence in a run-down
lodging of Benedictine monks, living in abject poverty, and ministering
to those in need. The example of Saint Joseph and his companions
attracted the attention of the Turks, who visited the new missionaries
in great numbers. Saint Joseph, despite prohibitions, ministered to the
captive Christians and preached in the town squares each day, until his
arrest.
Upon release, this zealous holy man sought audience with the Sultan, to
preach the Good News in his court. Joseph was captured and condemned to
death for his audacity, and was hung by metal hooks through his right
hand and foot on the gallows over a smoky fire. There he remained,
alive, for three days until (as Holy Legend recounts) he was
miraculously freed by an angel.
For
reasons of safety and recovery, Joseph was recalled to Italy, and spent
the remainder of his days traveling and preaching throughout the
region, continuing his missionary work, and living with the same spirit
of poverty. He would preach and celebrate Mass six or seven times a day,
and became known by his brothers as the “Companion Killer” as the
brothers assigned to accompany him generally tired and succumbed to the
rigor of his zealous pace.
Saint Joseph also spent considerable time and energy in feeding,
clothing, and caring for the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned. He
cultivated a garden from which to harvest food for those in need, washed
the clothes of the poor by hand, cut their hair, and ministered to
their spiritual needs. Never tiring, Joseph established hospitals,
homeless shelters, and food banks throughout Italy. With his crucifix in
hand, he would wade into gang fights and brawls, praying, and preaching
peace and good sense. His nephew, also a Capuchin, praised his zeal,
saying,
"Wherever he found hatred and
quarrels he went there in hope of restoring peace. He paid no heed to
storms, snow, impossible roads. Exhorting, ’Lord make me an instrument
of your peace!’ and clutching the crucifix to his heart or raising it to
the heavens, no one could resist him.”
When
Joseph reached the end of his days, he asked to be transported to
Leonessa. There, he made his goodbyes with family and friends, and
raised his crucifix to bless his home town. He was taken to Amatrice, to
see his nephew, and too weak to recite the Divine Office, is said to
have prayed:
"Today is a Saturday dedicated to Mary. Like Francis, I will be happy to die on this day. Holy Mary, help the suffering." Dying peacefully, his relics are enshrined in Leonessa.
Saint Joseph suffered illness, poverty, and exhaustion throughout his
life, never ceasing in his efforts to bring the peace of Christ to those
around him. He embraced his suffering, contemplating the wounds of
Christ, and frequently exclaiming,
"When we suffer anything we give proof of our love."
We look to Saint Joseph of Leonessa as a shining example of the union
of joy and suffering made manifest by Our Lord on the cross, and the
experience of Our Blessed Mother throughout her life. May we, like this
holy saint, embrace our own personal sufferings as bringing us closer to
our risen Lord, and for expiation of the sins of the world.
Almighty God,
You made Saint Joseph an illustrious preacher of the gospel.
Through his prayers inflame us with love
and with his zeal for souls that we may serve You alone.
Amen.
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